Realtors are best known for their expertise in helping you presents your house; sell it to best value and for assisting you with house hunting and purchase. However, your realtor has developed priceless contacts. He or she can make informed recommendations about house services you need when you move to a new community.

When you are in the realty business, you rub shoulders with others who can gain from contacts with those who buy and sell houses. Obviously, there are some like moneylenders, mortgage companies, contractors, security companies, and landscapers who have a direct homeowner interest. But, there are others—like retailers, home decorating business, restaurants and personal/healthcare professionals who can gain from realtor referrals too. In the realty business there is plenty of “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours!” swapping of contacts.

Here are some contacts your realtor can provide:

Realtors can provide valuable home maintenance tips and contacts. If you need a landscaper or someone to cut your grass, ask your realtor about his/her experience. These people see numerous homes and they know who does a good job for a fair price.Good realtors also offer reminders like changing smoke alarm batteries annually and changing furnace and A/C filters twice a year.

Realtors can provide good ideas for design or remodeling ideas and workers who do good renovation work.

Realtors are experts at organizing home paperwork. They can make suggestions about a good real estate lawyer and preparing for tax time. They can help first-time homeowners prepare a home binder that contains your deed, realty details, mortgage, appraisals, inspection reports, warranties, and settlement contracts.

Realtors can make good suggestions regarding institutions that will lend money for home purchase.

You have moved your family so suggestions about services including doctor, dentist, hair stylist, and dry cleaner would be very welcome.

Good schools and daycare centers and babysitters are a priority. Ask your realtor who has relocated clients into this community.

If you are having work done on your home, people to sell and service appliances, cleaning services and caterers are vital contacts.

When you move, it is always convenient to receive suggestions about good, nearby grocery stores, shops, drug stores, the post office, banks and department stores complete with addresses and a local map are a godsend.

Realtors can provide suggestions for money managers and financial advisors.

Realtors have contacts in their community with churches, recreational or sports facilities and personnel. If you are looking for a good chiropractor, masseuse, personal trainer, gym, or running group, your realtor has contacts he/she can suggest.

If you want to take a client to lunch at a nice restaurant, your realtor can make suggestions.

Many people arrive in a new community knowing no one but their realtor. It should come as no surprise that the new homeowner develops a relationship with this person beyond simply buying a house. Surveys indicate that when it comes time to trade up or sell their home nearly 90% use the same realtor again. That’s because of the trust that has grown over time.